Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

I wanted to respond because I have had so much trouble and little help from Spiegel. I too received a letter (from Eddie Bauer, not Spiegel) stating that my account was closed. I have continued to pay on this on time etc., like a good little consumer. Since I paid $100 towards my September balance and it only went down $4....yes that is four dollars (!!!) I called Spiegel and tried to get an answer.

The first call they offered me the number and address. I tried the number and it was only automated so they offered for someone to call me back...(never happened.) The second call I asked to speak to someone about the FCNB account information. A snotty girl offered me the same info/numbers/addresses. I asked to speak to a supervisor (nicely of course) and she snottily transferred me where I was hung up on.

The third call I finally spoke to a supervisor at Spiegel who only offered me apologies and little more information. I have decided to pull up my credit report because I was scared that I was being taken advantage of - what else can I think when I pay $100 and only $4 goes towards my balance?!?!?!

My credit report shows that I closed the account (which I did not) but it shows on time and my balance. I have taken this account to a debt consolidator in New York. When I told them the situation with my last payment, they balked at the fact that this had happened. They estimated that the new bank - which they told me was MERRICK BANK IN HICKSVILLE NEW YORK had to be charging me at least 35% in interest a month!!!!!

It makes me sick that we are being treated like 2nd class citizens when we once were "valued customers" of FCNB/Spiegel etc. I am mad that basically $96 dollars went somewhere into a bank's pockets which have to be deep enough to reach to the 7th level of dante's inferno....or this is how I see it.

If there is a class action out there, I would like info. I will print the DOT's information and try to read it. This is not right and people who were in good standing with FCNB should not just be dumped into a new bank that charges over 35% APR!!!

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.